Reader Writes November 2024

You are going where?!! The Herefordshire Radnorshire border?! Where on earth is that?

Oh, near Wales. Kingston, Kington? Quarries, livestock market, sheep; ah yes, I’ve heard

of such places. That’s how I imagine the Cathedral meritocracy of Christ Church Oxford

might be voicing its dismay at learning they are to lose their valued Revd Canon Dr Sally

Welch to a remote rural ministry in the Welsh marches. But of course it will make sense,

since amongst the umpteen books she’s published, many are on pilgrimage, labyrinths

and journeying etc, so she’ll be putting it into action with map, staff, smart phone and much

happy striding. We, of course, are delighted! Thank you Christ Church, but our sheep-

cropped hills and Kington call.

We said prominently in our parish profile advertising the post that we sought someone who

shared a passion for growth, who would naturally make spreading the Good News of the

gospel a high priority. In so called “rural ministry” there is always tension and competition

between the many roles; after all, there is only one vicar but the fullest spectrum of needs,

and opportunities. Which is why the parish profile also put prominent emphasis on the

need for a team maker and team builder. It’s so hard to find words that convey the idea of

spreading responsibilities and empowering ministries.

It takes well developed leadership, but this too is in competition with the role of pastor.

Existing congregations and friends of the church want visits and spiritual support. That

makes the vicar very popular, but meanwhile, the three thousand or so people of Kington

who only enter church for funerals or school carols, remain spiritually underfed. Good

leadership resists the popular call to be everywhere at once, and enables and nurtures

effective leaders wherever there are spiritual gifts, be they prayer, healing, teaching,

evangelism or administration.

With a hint of irony, Sally Welch will be leaving behind in Christ Church a striking stained

glass window of Jonah, he of the wale fame; Jonah sits brooding under a lush green vine

with its large yellow gourdes watching and waiting for God’s judgement on Nineveh. The

miserable Jonah is furious with God for sending him on this hopeless mission. They

deserve what’s coming to them in his view. But our God is a god full of grace, and a sense

of humour. Jonah, as it turns out, is very mistaken. From king to meanest citizen they put

on sackcloth and repent, and God has mercy on the whole 120,000 of them who “do not

know their right hand from their left, …….and much cattle”! (Jonah 4:11)

So a very warm welcome to the Revd Sally and her husband Jeremy. May you quickly find

friends, a congenial place for writing, time to make music, and an abundance of pilgrim

paths exploring new spiritual treasures in our pipet and lark filled hills. No need or time to

sit under the vine of yellow gourdes sheltering from the sun. God longs for us to be filled

with the Spirit and to work and pilgrim together. We are so pleased God sent the wale to

rescue you from the dreaming spires and spit you out on our wild green shore where there

are plenty enough of us who don’t know their right hand from their left, ……and much

sheep.

Robert MacCurrach